Bunk the Junk

Life is a race for one and all. And to emerge victorious every single day, we give up on more “me time” more breaks and more sleep. In the faint hope that we excel in our assignments in college and impress the boss at work. Does anybody have time to live alone in a studio apartment and cook their own food? Food is what gets compromised to large extents. Our diet is the last thing we think about with a deadline hovering over our heads. We order in or hog on Maggi or Wai Wai. The funny thing is not many of us youngsters know how to cook. And don’t you dare go around asking your female friends for assistance in this department, nowhere in the world is it written that cooking is our lone responsibility. And honestly, if women can work and earn for themselves, you mommy’s boys can learn to cook for yourself! Anyway, getting back to my point, we always end up relying on some form of junk food or fast food. I cannot blame you because you do have a major time crunch and then cooking is not as easy as Gordon Ramsey proves it to be. However, it is essential to learn the basics for yourselves. We are all well aware of the long term side effects of junk and fast food. They are extremely unhealthy and also hazardous for the health.

The only appeal we have towards junk food is because of the two Ts: Time and Taste. However it needs to stop. Think before digging into the next packet of chips or KFC. Fast food is termed as well fast food because it does not take much time to cook and is served almost instantly. It lacks nutritional value and does not contribute in any healthy way. Mostly fast food comprises of deep fried food which only adds fat, sugar and calories to your diet. Some of the effects of continued consumption of such food products are quite extreme and in some cases fatal as it causes major diseases not to mention obesity.

HEART DISEASE

People consuming excessive amounts of fast food develop severe heart conditions. Fast food contains high amounts of cholesterol and fat. Coronary heart disease takes place when the arteries carrying blood, gets blocked due to fatty deposits or plaque leading to a blood clot. This narrowing of the artery is called atherosclerosis. These clogged arteries cause cardiac arrests or heart attacks. Fast food contains saturated and Trans fats, which enhances chance of cardiac arrests and increases cholesterol level in the blood. You know you need to change your food habits if your food causes your heart attacks.

Blocking artery

DIABETES TYPE 2
Diabetes caused by poor lifestyle choices like being obese and lacking all forms of physical activity. Insulin is what balances blood sugar level. But those who suffer from type 2 Diabetes, their body starts losing sensitivity to Insulin. Their glucose tolerance is impaired. People suffering from obesity are likely to suffer from type 2 Diabetes as compared to other people.

PEPTIC ULCERPeptic ulcer also called Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) is the most common ulcer of the gastrointestinal tract. Consumption of fried food can cause acidity and the lining of the tract being exposed is prone to ulcers. Therefore fried food is a health hazard.

GASTROENTERITISWhen the stomach lining undergoes inflammation, gastroenteritis occurs. Symptoms include gastrointestinal disturbances, vomiting, nausea, weight loss, bloating, loss of appetite, and burping. The problem can only be taken care of by eliminating junk food which the main cause of gas production, which in turn leads to this condition.

HEARTBURNHigh temperatures and fried food is always a bad combination as it can cause a variety of problems, including heartburn. Heartburn is characterized by a burning sensation in the lower chest area and is usually caused by high consumption of deep fried and oily food. This also causes extreme discomfort in the lower abdomen and chest. Side effects of heartburn include nausea, pain and vomiting. If bowel problems also surface then that implies the symptoms of a reflux. In which case it can get serious, therefore you either consult a doctor or completely stop consumption of fried food.

Fast food causes abdominal pain

Last but not the least is Obesity which we all know about. Obesity causes heart diseases and is one of the unhealthiest physical conditions to be in. Not only does it make us look ugly, but it creates all sorts of weird diseases. We all love pizzas from Pizza Hut, our foot long Subway sandwiches, Kentucky Fried Chicken. But the outcome of just catering to your taste buds is a slow and lethal process, not to mention ugly. Irrespective of the situation, healthy food is essential. We need our vitamins, fibers, and nutrients in a harmoniously balanced diet along with physical exercises. The route that leads to a healthy life has to be achieved without short cuts. And think of it this way, if you really want to top every aspect of your life, then health should top that priority list. Something to think about, isn’t it?